Can Josh Doctson and Terrelle Pryor be an upgrade over DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garçon?

Losing two 1,000-yard receivers in the same offseason is not something any football team wants to do.

But it happened to the Washington Redskins, and now they must do what they can to keep what has been a prolific offense moving in the right direction. Knowing that either DeSean Jackson or Pierre Garçon — or both — might be gone in 2017, the Redskins started the process of replacing them last offseason when they drafted Josh Doctson in the first round. Once it became clear that both Jackson and Garçon would not be wearing Burgundy and Gold next season, the front office went after former Cleveland Browns receiver Terrelle Pryor.

One of the biggest questions facing the 2017 Redskins is whether Pryor and Doctson can replace — or even be an upgrade — over Jackson and Garçon.

Doctson came to Washington with an impressive resume. Beyond his 1,325 receiving yards off 78 catches, he was also a consensus All-American in his senior year. This is notable but it is also his 6-3, 200-pound frame that has coach Jay Gruden excited as well as his intangibles that could make him a seriously good NFL receiver.

The way he adjusts his body vertically to snag jump balls — combined with smooth routes, 4.5 40-speed and the ability to separate — makes it easy to understand Gruden’s frustration at his unavailability last year; he was out for all but two regular-season games.

Adding some weight as he matures will help him develop as will working with the more experienced pass-catchers on the team.

At 6-4 and 240 pounds, Pryor’s size alone makes him a player that defenses must game-plan around. As a five-year veteran, this experience will also help with Doctson as the two get acclimated to Gruden’s offense and Cousins’ timing.

It is well-documented that Pryor put up some good numbers last season with the Browns in his first full year as a receiver — even with six different quarterbacks throwing him the ball. His 1,007 yards on 77 catches are amazing considering his circumstances. Think of how successful he could be with Cousins throwing to him.

Fast and athletic (he ran a 4.4 40), Pryor came into the league as a quarterback out of Ohio State, but it didn’t take long for him to establish his receiving talent. It came to him easily and he embraced it.

Doctson will no doubt have some growing pains in his second season. Pryor brings experience in the NFL with him but only one year catching balls. Can these two players not only be adequate replacements for Jackson and Garçon but be true upgrades over them at the No. 1 and No. 2 spots?

What’s interesting about the Doctson-Pryor duo is that they are so different from their predecessors.

Jackson and Garçon have their own styles — one speedy and evasive with uncanny ball-tracking skills and the other a battle-waging-try-to-keep-me-from-catching-this-ball attitude.

When Doctson and Pryor take the field in 2016, they will bring their own personalities and skill sets.

It’s certainly impossible to tell now how good they will be, but it will be fun to watch as the two tall wideouts get into a groove with the Redskins offensive scheme and their talented quarterback.

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